Here is a look at The Tennessean’s top picks for this week’s high school football playoff games, along with predictions from staff writers Michael Murphy and Sam Brown:
Last week’s record: 8-2 (.800)
Season record: 92-28 (.766)
Independence quarterback Andrew Bunch ran for a season-high 92 yards and three touchdowns a week ago.
GAME OF THE WEEK
CLASS 5A
HENDERSONVILLE (10-1) AT INDEPENDENCE (11-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Hendersonville, one of the Midstate’s top rushing teams, will be squaring off against Independence’s prolific passing attack in this Class 5A second-round matchup. The Region 6-5A runner-up Commandos, led by the backfield trio of Terrell Carter, Mike Harris and Jack Towe, are averaging close to 300 yards rushing. The Andrew Bunch-led Eagles have torched opposing defenses for close to 3,000 yards through the air. You can’t really label either as one-dimensional, though. Bunch, coming off a 135-yard, one-touchdown passing effort a week ago, also ran for a season-high 92 yards and three rushing scores in the 49-7 first-round win over Cane Ridge. Hendersonville quarterback Brett Coker threw for a season-high 108 yards and a touchdown in the 43-20 opening-round triumph over Shelbyville.
Murph’s pick: Independence 42, Hendersonville 31
Brown’s pick: Independence 35, Hendersonville 14
Oakland’s Lazarius Patterson (4)
CLASS 6A
RIVERDALE (6-5) AT OAKLAND (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
If the regular-season Battle for the ‘Boro was any indication, Oakland should have no problem securing its third straight Class 6A quarterfinal appearance. The Region 2-6A champion Patriots, who are allowing just 11.6 points per contest, rolled to a convincing 43-14 Week 9 win over Riverdale behind junior Lazarius Patterson’s 243-yard, three-touchdown effort — the first of three straight Riverdale losses to close out the regular season. The Warriors snapped that skid with a thrilling 38-34 opening-round upset of Bradley Central, and they’d like nothing more than to end another on Friday as second-ranked Oakland has won the previous three meetings between the crosstown rivals. Warriors quarterback Brandon Bea (1,736 yards passing, 23 total TDs) accounted for three touchdowns a week ago, including the eventual game-winning rushing score with just 1:14 left.
Murph’s pick: Oakland 28, Riverdale 16
Brown’s pick: Oakland 28, Riverdale 13
Ravenwood senior running back Chris Rowland (23).
CLASS 6A
OVERTON (7-4) AT RAVENWOOD (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Sophomore kicker Jose Bravo was the hero in Overton’s opening-round win at Germantown, connecting on a 41-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 20-17 win despite the squad’s 15 penalties for 145 yards. That will need to be cleaned up for the Bobcats to have any chance against Ravenwood. The Region 3-6A champion Raptors, who rolled to a 55-7 first-round win over Bartlett, won the Oct. 15 matchup, burying the Bobcats with 24-unanswered second-half points. Ravenwood senior Chris Rowland eclipsed the 100-yard rushing and receiving mark a week ago, finishing with a combined 206 yards and three total touchdowns. The speedy 5-foot-9, 170-pounder also returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a score.
Murph’s pick: Ravenwood 34, Overton 14
Brown’s pick: Ravenwood 35, Overton 7
Hillsboro’s Kenshaun Starks (85) and Javonta Payton (6) celebrate a Burros touchdown.
CLASS 5A
BEECH (8-3) AT HILLSBORO (8-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Other than the venue, not much has changed since the last time these two 7-5A foes last squared off — a 21-17 region championship-clinching win for Hillsboro — so expect another back-and-forth game between these somewhat similar opponents. Beech running back Rodrick Napper ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the Oct. 30 meeting, but backup Alex Vanzant filled in nicely in last week’s 20-9 opening-round win over Lincoln County, racking up 97 yards and a pair of scores while filling in for the injured Napper. Hillsboro, which has surrendered a combined 40 points in its previous five wins, has seniors Jeremy Hill (877 yards rushing, 12 total TDs) and Deandre Alexander (641 yards rushing, 5 TDs). The Burros’ top deep threat, senior receiver Jay King (525 yards receiving, 5 TDs), should be 100 percent healthy for the first time in five games.
Murph’s pick: Hillsboro 28, Beech 24
Brown’s pick: Hillsboro 21, Beech 14
Centennial senior Texas A&M commitment Tyrel Dodson.
CLASS 5A
BRENTWOOD (6-5) AT CENTENNIAL (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Coach Ron Crawford’s return got off to a rather rocky start after Brentwood dropped three of its first four games. However, the Carson Croy-led Bruins bounced back to win five of their final seven to secure a third-place Region 7-5A finish and the program’s first postseason berth since 2012. Brentwood, which rolled to a convincing 52-7 first-round win over Memphis Central, played Centennial tough in the Week 8 matchup but suffered a 24-10 defeat. The 7-5A champion Cougars, winners of nine in a row, had a tougher-than-expected time with its opening-round opponent but escaped with a 20-14 win over Southwind, thanks to Class 5A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year semifinalist Tyrel Dodson’s three-touchdown rushing performance.
Murph’s pick: Centennial 21, Brentwood 17
Brown’s pick: Centennial 21, Brentwood 7
Pearl-Cohn senior wide receiver Rontavius Groves (right)
CLASS 4A
LIPSCOMB (8-3) AT PEARL-COHN (7-4)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
After struggling through a difficult 2-4 start, which included losses to Hillsboro, MBA, CPA and Muscle Shoals (Ala.), Pearl-Cohn picked it up down the stretch, wrapping up the regular season with four straight lopsided region wins before throttling Montgomery Central 40-0 in last week’s Class 4A first-round game. Lipscomb, led by Class 4A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year semifinalist Rutger Reitmaier (53 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles), advanced with a 14-7 win over Maplewood, and the Mustangs will need a similar defensive effort to hang with a prolific Pearl-Cohn offense. Quarterback Jimmy Ferrell and wide receiver Rontavius Groves have been in full force for the Firebirds, hooking up 25 times for 559 yards and 11 touchdowns in the team’s last four wins.
Murph’s pick: Pearl-Cohn 40, Lipscomb 24
Brown’s pick: Pearl-Cohn 38, Lipscomb 14
Springfield quarterback Dewayne Buckner (5).
CLASS 4A
SPRINGFIELD (8-3) AT KENWOOD (8-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Kenwood running back Antwuan Branch (223 rush ypg, 26 TDs) has eclipsed the 200-yard mark six times, which includes a 207-yard effort in the Oct. 11 matchup with Springfield. Unfortunately for the Knights, the Yellow Jackets silenced pretty much everyone else, limiting the rest of their offense to just 18 yards in the 36-6 win. That seems to be a winning formula for coach Dustin Wilson’s squad as Springfield also allowed a 200-yard rusher in its opening-round win over Hillwood. Hilltoppers quarterback Terron Smith accounted for 362 total yards — 243 rushing — but the Yellow Jackets still coasted to a comfortable 47-26 win.
Murph’s pick: Springfield 31, Kenwood 17
Brown’s pick: Springfield 34, Kenwood 13
First-year Stratford coach Maurice Fitzgerald.
CLASS 3A
STRATFORD (8-3) AT CPA (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Stratford probably feels like it let one slip away after its regular-season matchup with Christ Presbyterian Academy, but the Spartans, who are coming off a 39-0 rout of Fairview, will have another shot at the defending Class 3A champion Lions. CPA, winners in 25 of its last 26, faced a 12-3 halftime deficit during the Oct. 2 meeting before outscoring the Spartans 31-6 in the second half. Class 3A Mr. Football Back of the Year semifinalist Zack Weatherly leads a potent Lions offense, which has eclipsed the 40-point mark in each of its last four wins. Stratford quarterback Josh Trueheart has thrown for 475 yards and seven touchdowns passes in wins over Greenbrier and Fairview.
Murph’s pick: Stratford 24, CPA 21
Brown’s pick: CPA 28, Stratford 21
Nashville Christian’s Lelan Wilhoite (11) ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win.
CLASS 1A
HUNTINGDON (10-1) AT NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN (10-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Nashville Christian hasn’t come close to defeat since its Sept. 25 setback to coach Jeff Brothers’ former team, Pope John Paul II, winning its previous five games by a combined 268-41. The Eagles scored a season-high 64 points in last week’s 56-point win over Clarksville Academy, rushing for 391 yards and eight touchdowns. Region 6-1A runner-up Huntingdon will likely provide a tougher challenge, but the Mustangs will be without 6-foot, 220-pound sophomore Kade Pearson (963 yards rushing, 13 TDs). Huntingdon is averaging 47.1 points, while the Daniel Bituli-led Eagles defense is allowing just 10 points per contest.
Murph’s pick: Nashville Christian 42, Huntingdon 24
Brown’s pick: Nashville Christian 35, Huntingdon 20
MBA coach Marty Euverard talks to quarterback Glenn Coleman.
DII-AA
MCCALLIE (6-5) AT MBA (9-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
McCallie’s 6-5 record might not be overly impressive, but the Blue Tornado, led by quarterback Robert Riddle (1,934 yards passing, 14 TDs) have been extremely competitive, suffering four of its five losses by a combined 22 points, including a 33-27 overtime setback to Montgomery Bell Academy. MBA’s Ty Chandler ran for a season-high 279 yards and four touchdowns in that Sept. 18 victory, and the junior has a Division II-AA leading 1,772 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Big Red, who wrapped up the regular season with a 23-21 win over rival Ensworth, enjoyed an opening-round bye. McCallie advanced with a 54-21 rout of Pope John Paul II.
Murph’s pick: MBA 21, McCallie 13
Brown’s pick: MBA 28, McCallie 27
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.